Immediate effect of treadmill walking practice versus overground walking practice on overground walking pattern in ambulatory stroke patients: an experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether 10 minutes of treadmill walking had a different effect on overground walking pattern compared with 10 minutes of overground walking in newly ambulatory stroke patients. Are any changes influenced by walking ability?


METHODS
A within-participant, repeated measures experimental study was conducted. Each participant carried out 10 minutes of overground walking practice followed by 10 minutes of treadmill walking practice at matched heart rate on separate days.


METHODS
An inpatient rehabilitation facility.


METHODS
Twenty-one participants receiving inpatient rehabilitation following stroke.


METHODS
Overground walking pattern was measured as linear and angular kinematics using GAITRite and a two-dimensional webcam application respectively.


RESULTS
Following treadmill walking practice, there was 6 degrees (95% confidence interval (CI) 2 to 10) more knee extension at heel strike during overground walking than following overground walking practice. Poorer walkers increased non-paretic limb step length following treadmill walking practice more than those with better walking ability (mean difference 2.2 cm, 95% CI 0 to 5).


CONCLUSIONS
Ten minutes of treadmill walking practice resulted in a similar overground walking pattern compared with overground walking practice in newly ambulatory stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation, regardless of walking ability.
Kuys
Suzanne S
SS
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Griffith University, Australia. s.kuys@griffith.edu.au
Brauer
Sandra G
SG
Ada
Louise
L
Russell
Trevor G
TG
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000295:instrumentation; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*